Control of mitophagy initiation and progression by the TBK1 adaptors NAP1 and SINTBAD

SUMMARY Mitophagy preserves overall mitochondrial fitness by selectively targeting damaged mitochondria for degradation. The regulatory mechanisms that prevent PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy and other selective autophagy pathways from overreacting while ensuring swift progression once initiated are largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate how the TBK1 adaptors NAP1 and SINTBAD restrict the initiation of OPTN-driven mitophagy by competing with OPTN for TBK1. Conversely, they promote the progression of NDP52-driven mitophagy by recruiting TBK1 to NDP52 and stabilizing its interaction with FIP200. Notably, OPTN emerges as the primary recruiter of TBK1 during mitophagy initiation, which in return boosts NDP52-mediated mitophagy. Our results thus define NAP1 and SINTBAD as cargo receptor rheostats, elevating the threshold for mitophagy initiation by OPTN while promoting the progression of the pathway once set in motion by supporting NDP52. These findings shed light on the cellular strategy to prevent pathway hyperactivity while still ensuring efficient progression.